Again over Easter we went on vacation in my spouse’s van across the west and north of wales. I used 3 cameras while we had been travelling the Sony ZV-1, a Hasselblad SWC and a Pentax 110 auto. I’ve already reviewed the Sony, and have some ideas to share about each the Pentax and Hasselblad sooner or later, although I’m not fairly prepared on both rely simply but. In the intervening time, I assumed it is perhaps good to jot down concerning the first roll of 110 movie I’ve shot because the 90s!
The final time I shot 110 movie should have been within the 90s, although I can’t actually keep in mind what yr, it could have been early 90s. My nan purchased me my first digicam, a Nikon RF10, after I was 9 in 1992, and I do know it was someday after that as I already had the curiosity in pictures after I tried the 110 digicam. That digicam I shot has a little bit of a again story too, which is probably why I keep in mind it so nicely.
I used to get a bus again from college and used to talk to a few the drivers. One specifically, Chris, used to share Polo mints with the children and he used to maintain them in a little bit cup holder underneath the window to the precise of his seat. I acquired on the bus sooner or later and within the strategy of attempting to scrounge a mint noticed a small black case. I requested Chris what it was and he advised me it was a digicam that somebody had left on the bus. Being cheeky, I requested him if I may have it. After all the reply was no, however he mentioned that if nobody claimed it in six months, which was their misplaced property coverage, I may certainly have it. I appear to recollect commonly asking him if the six months had handed – I wager it was much more commonly than I keep in mind too. Six months ultimately did move, and sooner or later he introduced me with this digicam. It was small, very mild, very plasticky, purple and black in color, and positively a 110 digicam.
I shot a few rolls with it too, and although the photographs are lengthy gone I keep in mind rising shortly drained with how completely unreliable it was. It was definitely much less dependable than my little Nikon which was little extra advanced than a disposable, however labored completely for me more often than not. The outcomes that got here out from the 110 left rather a lot to be desired – they had been grainy and muddy, what I now perceive to be underexposed.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than my younger inquisitive thoughts determined to dismantle it – I used to like taking stuff aside after I was a child. Actually, I’ve a very vivid reminiscence of taking this digicam aside with a little bit screwdriver in a restaurant in a city close to the place I used to dwell. I’ve no thought why I had a screwdriver, or what occurred to the bits of digicam, however suffice to say that was the top of my relationship with 110. Or at the very least it was till lately.
Since then, I’ve had a unfavourable perspective towards the format. The floor space of movie you shoot with a 110 digicam is dramatically smaller than that of a 35mm body. It’s even smaller than APS movie. The results of that is, in fact, extra perceptible grain once you enlarge your pictures. Rising up within the latter a part of the movie period and early a part of the digital period, grain isn’t one thing I’ve ever actually sought out. I don’t thoughts a little bit bit, however the place the are choices to scale back it, I’d are likely to err towards them. This mixed with earlier unfavourable experiences of 110 movie, albeit ones from a great few years in the past, have meant that I’ve by no means actually had any need to shoot it.
What modified? Properly, as is commonly the case with me, I wasn’t motivated to shoot a specific sort of movie, as a substitute I fancied a specific digicam. On this case, the digicam was a Pentax 110 auto. I’ve seen these cameras within the flesh a great few instances, and at all times preferred the look of them. They’re tiny, however one way or the other handle to have very nice, huge, clear viewfinders. I’d by no means bitten the bullet and purchased one although. Actually, I didn’t purchase the one I ended up capturing – Josh who used to work for pixl-latr purchased a pair he noticed on eBay going for a small amount of money. He requested if I wished one in every of them, and I couldn’t say no.
It was then I acquired in contact with Hannah from Lomography UK to ask her ideas on the accessible movies they stocked. She replied very kindly providing me a few rolls to shoot. This roll of Tiger was the primary I loaded. Actually, I made a little bit instagram reel of me loading it – I loaded while on the best way to Wales in my spouse’s huge van. I then shot it over the course of the journey. And you recognize what? The entire expertise was much more constructive than I might have ever anticipated.
For a begin, the little Pentax was a dream to shoot. It’s tiny, so I may take it all over the place. It got here with a few lenses too, a 24mm (~50mm equal) and an 18mm (~35mm equal) – I shot all of it with the little 18mm focus free lens which means I may simply snap away with out having to consider focusing, one thing I at all times get pleasure from. I need to admit, I wasn’t satisfied the photographs had been going to be that nice. Actually, this truly added to my enjoyment when snapping. I simply took the pictures with little concern for the result. After all, after they got here out actually properly, it was much more of a pleasant shock.
It’s true, they’re a good bit extra grainy than 35mm movie photographs. They’re additionally softer than pictures I get out of equal 35mm lenses on a 35mm digicam. However truly, the photographs have an actual appeal to them. They’re nicely uncovered and have a heat tone that I actually like. Dare I say, they nearly really feel nostalgic too… which is a phrase I don’t usually affiliate with movie since I’ve by no means actually not shot it. They simply have that look of older movie pictures – the kind you would possibly discover in a dad and mom picture album or the like. I suppose it’s completely probably that part of this is because of the truth that I took them on vacation too. They’ve private, constructive emotions related to them – the grain and picture heat add to that.
In brief, I’m actually satisfied with them. I’ve already purchased myself a few additional rolls of Lomography Tiger movie, and have been so inspired by the expertise that I’ve purchased one other lens for the Pentax 110. Earlier than I get on to the opposite rolls of Tiger, I’ve a roll of Metropolis (which I’ve shot and enjoyed earlier than) and a roll of Orca black & white too. I truthfully by no means thought I might shoot this movie format once more, however I’m happy I’ve given it a go… I’m not happy concerning the GAS I now have for extra 110 cameras although…
Thanks once more to Lomography UK for the movie. You’ll find their vary of 110 movie on their web site here. It’s additionally value noting they’re doing a little bit little bit of promo for the 110 from June 29 – July sixth. Share your greatest 110 photographs on social media with the hashtag #EasyLomoAnalogue and they’ll choose a winner who will get 10EUR/USD coupon for his or her on-line store.
